Symptoms, Signals or Stop Signs

6 Responses to "Symptoms, Signals or Stop Signs"

Click here to leave a comment

1. Hi, SUe
   John McManamy
   Thursday, August 09, 2007 at 09:47 AM
   Great blog. See you in a fews minutes. (Inside joke: We're both at the DBSA conference in Orlando.)
   reply
2. Untitled Comment
   G.J. Gregory
   Thursday, August 09, 2007 at 05:10 PM
   That appears to be a great way to track recovery / wellness.  But we're back to your original concern about treatment - we roll the dice twice with each treatment method we try.  The first time for treatment effectiveness, the second time for side affect intensity.
   reply
3. Rapid Cycling
   rgv115@aol.com
   Monday, August 13, 2007 at 09:21 PM
   I seem to be cycling so freguently there is no time to recognize an acurate expectation level of treatment.
   reply
4. symotoms
   Suzy
   Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 07:11 AM

   I went for 5 YEARS without any symptoms of mania or depression (bipolar 1).  Then I went through a 5-month period of hypo mania (only sleeping about 3 hours a night, unusually good mood & energy, etc.).  I didn't realize how dangerous that was.  i just enjoyed it & didn't report it to my doc. 

    

   I was on the same meds that had kept me stable for those 5 years.  After the 5 months of hypo mania I crashed suddenly & overdosed.

    

   My doc said it was actually rare for someone with bipolar 1 to go that long without an episode & that I hadn't "failed."  I had felt like I was the poster child for bipolar, because I was doing so well on the meds & lifestyle I had modified to reduce stress, etc. 

    

   It's been a year now since the crash & I'm still seeing my doc every 2 weeks.  I'm cycling now very frequently.  Medication adjustments are being made often.  I don't understand how this could have happened.

   
   reply
5. In response to: Symptoms, signals or stop signs
   marion
   Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 04:08 AM

   The difficulty trying to explain how well a treatment for depression is working is the fact that, particularly for me with bipolar, it isn't always the same. My moods aren't stagnant. I rapid cycle so I can fill out the mood tracker 6 times a day online at DBSA and have 6 different outcomes. (The new mood tracker is so excellent) Now, how could a lay person ever understand that without understanding the disorder first.  Well, is the treatment working or not??? Somewhat.  No cure, but lessening of symptoms.

    

   How can I say that my combination of meds, therapy, family, support people, exercise etc prevent this when I still crash and burn? There is no cure...just recovery from the fall and knowledge that this too shall pass so its not as tragic in my mind as the many times before. How does one explain that to others who say "See, you still fall...you have no hope either."  And I reply that I have hope because I know like at the end of the night, the sun will shine again. Its not like night will last forever, I know the sun will shine again with the steps I am taking. I just need to take care of myself and do these things, keep going to group and tell you all that we need to band together, stay together and share the good and the bad and by being together the sun will shine again for all of us. We make the sun shine again for ourselves. We  help determine when the morning comes.

    

   My internal song, which I have sung since a wee one, is "This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine.." Without the dark, we wouldn't appreciate the light is all.

    

   Does this treatment plan work? Its really hard to say. I haven't been this depressed in a very long time. Been going to DBSA groups at least weekly if not more, taking my meds, sharing with caring people I have met through groups who are also struggling, taking my meds...its sometimes hard to say outright that our treatment plans work.

    

   Yes, they do work when really evaluated. I know that without my medication, my new found friends caring, the knowledge I have gained and sharing in groups, I would be so far down right now. I have been down there before and pledged I would never ever let myself go there again. I am not there. By the grace of God and hard work and DBSA I am not there. Thank you.  Yes, my treatment plan is working. Just no where near what I would wish on anyone. I want more out of life...for anyone including myself who has depression. I want joy again looking at my grandchildren and being at the ocean. Keep up your good work.

   
   reply
6. BiPolar Depression
   Ruth Sommerfeld
   Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 02:27 PM
   It's manageable as long as I'm careful.
   reply